The original was kind of important in gaming history because of the violence, and specifically the emphasis on the brutal violence as kind of the unique selling point. But the thing is that importance has diminished. I mean you're employing brutal violence against random beasts, not recognisably human, and they are trying to kill you. Even several years ago in GTA Vice City you could take a chainsaw to members of the general public. Splatter House is so far behind the violence curve it's unique selling point is moot. It's a crossbow in a room full of machine guns.

That they failed to deliver on the gameplay is just the icing on the failcake to be honest. That's the first order of business right there.